So it looks like I will be leaving awesome horsey aiken for a new job in Richmond VA.
Where is the horsey-est part of Richmond to live (buy horse property)? Or to board?
I ride dressage but willing to work with an event trainer.
Vets/ farriers ?
I know it won’t be aiken but hopefully still lots of horsey stuff. I have cross-posted on the Dressage forum too.
West of Richmond, as in Powhatan/Goochland or even farther, toward Scottsville/Charlottesville – esp. for more eventing oriented facilities. Should be plenty of properties for sale in Powhatan.
I believe there are some good dressage trainers north of the city – I’m sure you’ll get some contacts on your Dressage forum thread for those. There are some very good dressage barns in the Hampton Roads area, too, but that’s not the Richmond area, of course.
PS – sorry, still can’t edit – by north of the city I meant Doswell area – good dressage barns there. Of course you could go all the way to NoVA – but that would be quite a hike in really slow traffic a good deal of the time. Not what I’d want unless I were working in that area – though of course it is amazingly beautiful and very very horse-oriented.
As for vets – Woodside Equine.
Welcome to the area!
I’d suggest taking a look at places like Chesterfield, Mechanicsville, Hanover County for property. Depending on how far you are willing to drive, I personally like Caroline County and it is also a bit cheaper.
Our local dressage chapter (I actually live further north but have been a member of this organization) is VADACC (http://vadacc.org). You make take a look on there to get a feel of the surrounding areas.
In terms of trainers, Lani Tigchelaar is in Hanover and just wonderful. Cannot say enough good things about her and if you search these forums for trainers in the area, her name comes up many times. Very effective and best teaching style I’ve experienced. Before living in [sort of] Central VA, she use to travel at the boarding barn I was at in NoVA about ten years ago. I worked with her as an event rider and she made the biggest impact on my very complicated, strangely built QH/Standardbred. Livesaver! Once I moved, I actually ended up switching to dressage but worked with a different (and also wonderful) trainer. At one point though, I decided I needed a change and found Lani again since she was pretty close to me. Man! I’ll just say she made all the difference in not just my scores (about a 6% boost pretty much immediately) but made everything super simple and gave me some very effective exercises. Can’t say enough good things.
Since you posted on the eventing thread, you also have Laine Ashker in the Richmond area too. She rides pure dressage as well and though I haven’t ridden with her, I’m sure she would be great.
There are also a lot of fantastic clinicians that come through the area as well.
Can’t really speak about farriers in that area but as for vets you have Woodside Equine Clinic close by. I personally use a smaller, “one man” clinic who I can recommend to you depending on where you end up living.
Let me know if I can help you with anything else!
Check out CVACTA’s website
I just left there 3 years ago. I lived in Western Goochland, on my own small farm (10 ac) and commuted 45 min to VCU daily. I was also an hour and 15 minutes from most of the Eventing in VA shows in the Charlottesville area and an easy ride up to NO VA shows and Chesterfield area and Powhatan. I highly suggest looking at Oakdale Farm. Great set up for eventers with lots of clinicians, some shows and the owner is a Real Estate Agent.
Good luck and I am so jealous
It’s been many years since I lived in Richmond, but Goochland as well as Powhatan were the big horse areas.
I did mainly hunter/jumpers, but right before I left, I had been on a waiting list for a really nice eventing barn in Chesterfield, I think. I cannot recall the name, though. If I can remember it, I’ll post it. I do remember they bred redbone hounds - does that ring a bell for anyone?
I sent you a pm with a farrier. He does a lot of dressage horses between VaB and Richmond, also H/Js and ASBs. Good guy.
We are located in Powhatan , we have a nice lighted out door as well as a large covered ring. We are primarily an event barn but obviously do a lot of dressage. Our neighbor is Jane Kelly (www.janekellydressage.com ) and she rides /teaches here nearly daily. Exceptional individualized horse care and a nice adult atmosphere. Feel free to call or message me for more info. 8043386061 www.levremont.com
Wow! Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will have temporary (human) housing in the Short Pump area as my brother lives there 
So that will give me a little time to look for a farm and/or boarding. I don’t start the new job until mid-Feb.
Hillbrook Farm in Hanover is a hop, skip, and jump from Short Pump. Even terse and dressage. Helen George is the dressage trainer and very good trainer and fun to be around. Jocelyn Kriss is Evening coach and also very good in all phases. Very nice facility…
A little further out in Ruther Glen is Jess Banks and JPB Equestrian. Jess is an eventing trainer and Helen goes over there weekly (?) to work with her clients on their dressage. Smaller facility but very close group of boarders and a lot of fun.
I have boarded/trained at both places and can’t say enough good my experience at both places.
Feel free to PM for more info.
Hillbrook Farm in Hanover is a hop, skip, and jump from Short Pump. Even terse and dressage. Helen George is the dressage trainer and very good trainer and fun to be around. Jocelyn Kriss is Evening coach and also very good in all phases. Very nice facility…
A little further out in Ruther Glen is Jess Banks and JPB Equestrian. Jess is an eventing trainer and Helen goes over there weekly (?) to work with her clients on their dressage. Smaller facility but very close group of boarders and a lot of fun.
I have boarded/trained at both places and can’t say enough good my experience at both places.
Feel free to PM for more info.
Hillbrook Farm in Hanover is a hop, skip, and jump from Short Pump. Eventing and dressage. Helen George is the dressage trainer and very good trainer and fun to be around. Jocelyn Kriss is Evening coach and also very good in all phases. Very nice facility…
A little further out in Ruther Glen is Jess Banks and JPB Equestrian. Jess is an eventing trainer and Helen goes over there weekly (?) to work with her clients on dressage. Smaller facility but very close group of boarders and a lot of fun.
I have boarded/trained at both places and can’t say enough good about my experience at both places.
Feel free to PM for more info.
Sorry for the double post but could not edit first.
thanks! I’ll check out Oakdale. It has been a major struggle to find dressage trainers in the Richmond area - getting a little worried I’m moving to a non-dressage area :eek:
Looks like the vets people recommend are all up in Charlottesville too. I have been really surprised there isn’t more in Richmond.
thanks! I’ll check out Oakdale. It has been a major struggle to find dressage trainers in the Richmond area - getting a little worried I’m moving to a non-dressage area :eek:
Looks like the vets people recommend are all up in Charlottesville too. I have been really surprised there isn’t more in Richmond.
Thanks for the leads! I’ll check them out and send you a PM.
As for vets, I have been happy with Woodside and (for NoVA needs, like PPEs) Woodside North.
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